Keble cuts cords with NUS
Keble JCR is no longer a member of the NUS, as a result of a disaffiliation referendum passed last Thursday.
The vote, which secured a turnout of 200 students - roughly half of the JCR - was passed by a decisive margin, by 141 votes in favour of disaffiliation and a mere 35 in support of NUS membership. Keble now joins a number of other Oxford colleges in withdrawing from the national union, including Merton, Christ Church, Oriel, Pembroke and Worcester.
The JCR will no now longer face the financial burden of a £1650 annual subscription fee, although it members will not be entitled to any of the services or representation offered by the NUS. Among the most popular benefits of NUS membership are the range of discounts at high street stores.
Keble JCR President David Furness told The Oxford Student that the decision to hold the referendum had been reached after a number of weeks of discussion by the JCR Committee. He said that to vote on the issue was "the right thing for Keble" and that it was time to ask "what do we actually get from our NUS membership?"
He added that he felt the turnout was "fairly good" and that those who chose not to vote were most likely to be doing so out of disinterest.
Furness was also buoyant that withdrawal from the NUS would not have a detrimental impact on the services provided to Keble students: "OUSU already provides all of the services which students need." He did admit, however, that disaffiliation was still an "experiment" and that there could be a case for rejoining the NUS if it proved to be in the interest of Keble JCR.
OUSU President Ruth Hunt said that she was quite happy with the decision Keble JCR had made: "I would rather have the money for my JCR than put over a thousand pounds into the coffers of an organisation that does nothing." She also criticised the poor and undemocratic ways in which decisions are made within the NUS, especially during the time in between annual conferences. Hunt echoed Furness's sentiments that OUSU provides "a level of welfare provision that is not matched in other universities, whose unions exist mainly to provide social events." It was for this reason that she felt there was much more of a case for Oxford colleges to disaffiliate from the NUS without losing much in the way of student benefits.
Moves towards raising the issue of NUS affiliation are also said to be in motion in a number of other colleges. It is generally accepted that JCRs renew their affiliation to the NUS annually by means of an affiliation motion, although this practice is scarcely adhered to in most colleges. OxStu sources suggest that Univ JCR will discuss a motion of disaffiliation at the next JCR meeting in a weeks' time, and that the impetus for disaffiliation is quite strong within the college. Wadham SU is also set to raise the issue at the same time. It remains to be seen, however, if Keble's secession will have any real effect on the attitude of other colleges to the NUS.
NUS President Owain James was not available for comment at the time of going to press.
7th Feb 2002